Live music acts coming to Foxborough

Wednesday

Apr 30, 2008 at 12:01 AMApr 30, 2008 at 5:05 AM

Later this summer, such headliners as Al Green, Chaka Khan, Peter Frampton and Dave Brubeck will be performing in town. But it won't be on a giant stage in Gillette Stadium with thousands of spectators. The artists are all part of the opening lineup for the new Showcase Live, which is under construction as part of Patriot Place that is expected to open in August.

Video: A new concert venue

Heather McCarron/Daily News staff

Later this summer, such headliners as Al Green, Chaka Khan, Peter Frampton and Dave Brubeck will be performing in town. But it won't be on a giant stage in Gillette Stadium with thousands of spectators.

Instead, they'll be playing in a much more intimate setting.

The artists are all part of the opening lineup for the new Showcase Live, which is under construction as part of Patriot Place that is expected to open in August.

Executives of The Kraft Group and National Amusements Inc., which are partners in the Showcase Live! venture, unveiled plans for the 16,000-square-foot music venue at a swanky event for media and town officials yesterday morning.

Robert Kraft, president and CEO of The Kraft Group, his son Jonathan Kraft, president of The Kraft Group, and Shari Redstone, president of National Amusements Inc., all touted Showcase Live as a "world-class," intimate live entertainment venue unlike any in New England.

Redstone said her vision for Showcase Live is a place "where everybody who walks in feels like a star and is treated like a star."

She said the concept, which National Amusements is trying out for the first time at Patriot Place, "is a very ... sophisticated environment."

"We wanted to create a destination that would be special and unique," said Robert Kraft, adding, "we're very privileged and proud to be able to host this Showcase Live right here at Patriot Place."

Jonathan Kraft said the goal was to bring the kind of entertainment to Foxborough that would normally require a trip to Boston.

"There is nothing, nothing even close to what Showcase Live is going to be" in this area, he said.

The facility is being constructed next to the 14-screen Showcase Cinema de Lux that is also planned at Patriot Place.

It will have a small stage, booths, tables and chairs with seating for 500, and standing room for another 500 people. It will include dining, a luxury bar, a flexible interior design enabling layout changes, and the latest in audio visual technology with three large digital projection screens and six high definition televisions.

Showcase Live will host banquets and top artists in all music genres, executives said yesterday. It will also provide a performance space for comedy events, corporate events, children's theater and other special programming.

Artist booking and promotion will be conducted through a partnership with the Blue Note Entertainment Group owned by the Bensusan Family of the Blue Note Jazz Clubs, B.B. King Blues Club and the Highline Ballroom in New York.

"We'll be able to pretty much accommodate all types of musicians," said Steven Bensusan, president of the Blue Note Entertainment Group. "Because of the high-level environment, we're going to be able to bring bigger-name artists."

Robert Kraft expressed his confidence that Showcase Live will be a key attraction at Patriot Place, "drawing visitors from throughout New England."

Making an appearance yesterday, New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick and Patriots linebackers Larry Izzo and Tedy Bruschi all said they are looking forward to the new venue.

"We're really excited about it. It certainly beats going into Boston and fighting the traffic," said Belichick, adding that, after those late night practices or workouts "we'll just pop over and see what's going on."

"I think this would be the perfect environment for the next Larry-oke event," said Izzo, referring to his annual benefit karaoke event for U.S. troops and their families.

Izzo said the facility sounds like it's going to be "a very exciting thing for the area."

"I live in Boston, but I may be moving out here to be where the action is," he joked.

Bruschi, who lives close by, said he is excited he'll have a place nearer to home to enjoy live music.

"It's nice to have something like this here where you come into a quaint setting, which is what I enjoy," he said, "and be in a setting that you can really see what the artist is all about. I'm looking forward to it."

Foxborough Selectman Lynda Walsh said she was impressed with yesterday's presentation.

"I think it's wonderful. Anything for entertainment in the area is wonderful," she said. "I think Mr. Kraft is living up to his expectations of growing this into a really unique area."